[Clarence]

When I swapped pristine tubes from my first Ampro into a Marquee 8500, someone said, "gee, I wish I would've known because I swapped tubes from a Marquee into a Barco... you could've put my Marquee tubes into your Marquee and I could've put your DVB tubes into my Barco without any mods required for either of us."


There are several scattered threads lately where we're swapping out tubes among various 8" EM CRTs...


180DVB22, P16HKA, PT18-205, interchangeable tubes used in Barco and Ampro.


Marquee has 180DMB22 which needs a relatively simple pin swap to be interchangeable with the others.


So before I start doing 3 way swaps, I figured I'd throw all the chips on the table and see if there were any opportunities out there that might save us some unnecessary mods.


Here's a CRT Phosphor Wear Rating guide .


I've got a new in box set of the Panasonic P16LNP VDC Ampro VDC retro tubes (the first batch that was liquidated). R=10, G=10, B=10. But they'd need the $100 mounting hardware swap from VDC.


I've got a set of Marquee 180DMB22 that came out of the M8500 that I put the pristine Ampro tubes into. I'd say R=8, G=6, B=7.


I've got 3 more pristine 180DVB22 in my latest Ampro... R=9.9, G=9.9, B=9.9


I've got 3 PT18-205 in a 1208/s2 with a toasty green ... R=8.5, B=8, G=4 (attached)


I'm amazed by how good the BG1208/s2 looks even with the worn green, so I really want to put a better G in it.


I see 3 options:

1) I could send in one of the retro P16LNP to VDC with the toasted PT18-205(G), but I'd be splitting up a matched new in box set of P16s.

2) I could put in my 180DMB22 G=6, since they're already removed and just laying around, but it'd require a pin mod

3) Remove a pristine G from the Ampro (no mod required) and replace it with the Marquee G=6 (with pin mod). Nah... can't do that.


I think Option #1 sounds the best. I'll see if VDC can put the P16LNP phosphor into my toasted PT18-205(G). Then I'll just see if anybody else needs the P16LNP retro Blue and Red. And that would also leave me with the Marquee DMB Blue and Red to unload.


But before I do that, if anybody has a 8" Barco or Ampro G (180DVB22 or PT18-205) in decent shape that they'd like to trade for a Marquee G (or R and/or B) (180DMB22), or for new P16LNP retro's, let me know.


Thanks,

Clarence

 

[gn2]

The Barco 1208s/2 will knock you flat when you have a good green installed in it.

The best looking "keeper" projector I had on the ceiling was a 1997 1208s/2. I think this is because they have extensive gamma controls built in, and can track grey scale bang on. I checked mine with a buddy's colorfacts, and it tracked dead on D6500 right to the point where the sensor couldn't read any more.

 

[Clarence]

It's hard to compare projectors until you see them side by side, and so much is dependant on how well they're setup and tuned in, but without even reading the downloaded Barco manual, I hooked up my laptop to this 1208s/2, brought up the convergence grid... I must've been within an inch of the previous throw distance of the prior installation. I popped in a DVD and WOW!


I did a mechanical toe in, 3 minute optical focus, ran a quick IRIS auto convergence (pretty cool), and did a quick manual touch up...


I can read corner desktop icons at 1280x1024.


1080i/720p OTA HD clips look great.


I'm amazed at how little the toasty green impacts the projected image. I was fully prepared to avert my spoiled eyes until I replaced the G tube, but it's suprisingly more than watchable even as is.

 

[Z-Photo]

C-


You let the barco cat out of the bag.





Once you go Barco you don't go back.


Sounds better than: Sony for one and Sony for all.


I will be doing the Ampro retro hardware swap for the BG 808. Soon.

 

[secstate]

Personally if the 1208s/2 is a keeper for you I would fully retube it with the P16s and sell off the decent used blue and green.

 

[Clarence]

Good point...

But the green isn't decent. The red and blue are.

I bet the R&B would fetch more than the P16 conversion cost, so that's a good route.

 

[Z-Photo]

If the picture is that good with one toasty eye -

Can not wait to see it with three fresh eyes.


Pete

 

[stefuel]

I was a little dissapointed with the performance of this Ampro 4600HD until I changed the rotten fluid, cleaned up the LC couplings and added color corrected c-elements. Now, WOW... Sharp as a tack with colors as good as my NEC. And I'm not even using the correct lenses yet. I think it's a keeper.


Chip

 

[secstate]

Quote:

Originally posted by Clarence Good point... But the green isn't decent. The red and blue are. I bet the R&B would fetch more than the P16 conversion cost, so that's a good route.

Sorry meant blue and red ;-). My fingers weren't typing what my brain was thinking (I have the same problem with my mouth or is that the other way...).

 

[pcCinema]

I'm an admitted Marquee fan but yes, I still can't seem to let go of my 1208/2 either. They throw an incredible pic. That and the Mits 1281...


I would be interested in buying those ampro retro tubes if you decide to let them go. All my good tubes have homes now, no spares.


Troy

 

[techman707]

Quote:

Originally posted by Clarence When I swapped pristine tubes from my first Ampro into a Marquee 8500, someone said, "gee, I wish I would've known because I swapped tubes from a Marquee into a Barco... you could've put my Marquee tubes into your Marquee and I could've put your DVB tubes into my Barco without any mods required for either of us." There are several scattered threads lately where we're swapping out tubes among various 8" EM CRTs... 180DVB22, P16HKA, PT18-205, interchangeable tubes used in Barco and Ampro. Marquee has 180DMB22 which needs a relatively simple pin swap to be interchangeable with the others. So before I start doing 3 way swaps, I figured I'd throw all the chips on the table and see if there were any opportunities out there that might save us some unnecessary mods. Here's a CRT Phosphor Wear Rating guide . I've got a new in box set of the Panasonic P16LNP VDC Ampro VDC retro tubes (the first batch that was liquidated). R=10, G=10, B=10. But they'd need the $100 mounting hardware swap from VDC. I've got a set of Marquee 180DMB22 that came out of the M8500 that I put the pristine Ampro tubes into. I'd say R=8, G=6, B=7. I've got 3 more pristine 180DVB22 in my latest Ampro... R=9.9, G=9.9, B=9.9 I've got 3 PT18-205 in a 1208/s2 with a toasty green ... R=8.5, B=8, G=4 (attached) I'm amazed by how good the BG1208/s2 looks even with the worn green, so I really want to put a better G in it. I see 3 options: 1) I could send in one of the retro P16LNP to VDC with the toasted PT18-205(G), but I'd be splitting up a matched new in box set of P16s. 2) I could put in my 180DMB22 G=6, since they're already removed and just laying around, but it'd require a pin mod 3) Remove a pristine G from the Ampro (no mod required) and replace it with the Marquee G=6 (with pin mod). Nah... can't do that. I think Option #1 sounds the best. I'll see if VDC can put the P16LNP phosphor into my toasted PT18-205(G). Then I'll just see if anybody else needs the P16LNP retro Blue and Red. And that would also leave me with the Marquee DMB Blue and Red to unload. But before I do that, if anybody has a 8" Barco or Ampro G (180DVB22 or PT18-205) in decent shape that they'd like to trade for a Marquee G (or R and/or B) (180DMB22), or for new P16LNP retro's, let me know. Thanks, Clarence

Clarence,


I'm a little senile and by the time I finish reading your posts, I forgot what the beginning said.


However, if you have any NEW oem 180DMB22 tubes, I'll swap them for NEW Panasonic/MEC P16/180DVB22 tubes. It's too bad that those P-16s you got were "retro" tubes that I believe have a "different" mounting frame. However, with silicone dissolver, you can remove those frames and replace them with a frame off a 180DMB/DVB tube with no problem. I ordered copper tape and ground braid for my P16s so they can be used in Marquees. All I can say, which you appear to have discovered, you haven't seen ANY projector until you've seen it with NEW tubes and properly setup as Paul says.


Bruce

 

[secstate]

Incidentaly that is what I am going to do with my 808s Data. Take out the decent CRTs (green is better than your 1208s/2) and retube it with the new P16s. Also I have the CRT "blocks" (the things the CRTs attach to--I don't know what their official name is) out of my old 1208/2 that will allow me to add continous schimpflug adjustment. So my Data 808s will be mostly a Graphics 808s minus the 120 MHz RGB bandwidth. Which I can live with. That is going to be my keeper. My plain old 808 Data which is currently my primary projector will become my spare.


The only "problem" I have right now is that all my tubes and spares are good with little to no wear. While I don't quite have the collection you do ;-), I hate to strip off the hardware from a good tube. So I am probably going to have to find some toasty tubes cheap or wait till I have toasted some of mine.


Does your 1208s/2 have Iris 2 or Iris 3? Iris 2 I think only does convergence not geometry. Iris 3 supposedly does it all. The only difference between one and the other is the firmware in the projector. The Iris 3 projectors have the lastest firmware which is essentially the same as the Cine series. If your projector is Iris 2 you can get the firmware update from a guy in the UK for $75. I have been thinking about doing that as well since my Data 808s is only Iris 2. It is not that I care about the Iris but the updated firmware has more advanced memory capabilities.

 

[Clarence]

I think I'm going to try the getting the green P16LNP Ampro retro rebuilt into a PT18-205(G).


My understanding is that I have to send in both an old P18 for the hardware and the new P16 for the phosphor and elements. And I'd get one rebuilt P18 with fresh phosphor in return.


The existing blue and red look good enough that I can't imagine sacrificing a couple of tubes rated 8 just to get them rebuilt with fresh phosphor. Remember, I'm a cheap rasterd, so that would mean losing a new P16 tube worth say $200 and a slightly worn P18 tube worth maybe $200, and paying another $100 for the mod, just to go from a 8 to a 10.


I think I'll try just replacing the green first. $100 + a toasted tube... that's more within my over-depleted budget.

 

[Clarence]

Quote:

Does your 1208s/2 have Iris 2 or Iris 3?

Just Iris 2. It seemed more involved than the ACON on my Marquees.


I'll have to read up on that upgrade to Iris3.

 

[secstate]

Quote:

Originally posted by Clarence Just Iris 2. It seemed more involved than the ACON on my Marquees. I'll have to read up on that upgrade to Iris3.

Here is the supplier and the info on what the upgrade offers (oh and given the Pound/US Dollar exchange rate these days it looks like it would be closer to $100).

http://*******.com/6fga3

 

[overclkr]

Clarence,


Your post makes me really glad that I sent my boards from the dead Graphics 808S I acquired for repair :^)


Looking foward to finally seeing a high end Barco in action. I will agree that the Barco's are by far the EASIEST CRT projector model I've had to date to set up.


This 808S I have has a very nicely evenly worn blue (5), but the green and red are nice and minty. I'm sure she will throw a very very respectable picture.


Now I just have to figure out where to put my XG, my G70, and my 808S in my house :^)


Actually, I've decided to keep two, and sell my DLP and one of the CRT's.


Decisions decisions......


Cliff

 

[Clarence]

Quote:

Originally posted by techman707 I'm a little senile and by the time I finish reading your posts, I forgot what the beginning said.

I can't read through my long rambling posts either

That's why I highlighted the bottom line...
I'm trying to find a single 8" Green.


However, if you have any NEW oem 180DMB22 tubes, I'll swap them for NEW Panasonic/MEC P16/180DVB22 tubes.[/quote]


Nope. No new DMBs.


Here's the Reader's Digest version...

I have:

(3) P16 retros (new in box)

(6) pristine DVB's (from Ampros)

(3) decent DMB's (removed from M8500)

(2) decent P18's (B&R from 1208s/2)

(1) toasted P18 green (the one I'm seeking to replace in the 1208s/2)


and about 15 other tubes that are in great shape , but they're appropriately attached to their original projectors, so not applicable to this topic.

 

[overclkr]

Also, are the P18's from the 1208 the same as the G808S??


Cliff

 

[Clarence]

Quote:

Originally posted by overclkr Also, are the P18's from the 1208 the same as the G808S?? Cliff

There are so many variations of the 1208 that you either have to physically check the PJ to see what's installed. But barco.com has a good spreadsheet with the original tubes per chassis and serial number.

 

[secstate]

Quote:

Originally posted by Clarence I think I'm going to try the getting the green P16LNP Ampro retro rebuilt into a PT18-205(G). My understanding is that I have to send in both an old P18 for the hardware and the new P16 for the phosphor and elements. And I'd get one rebuilt P18 with fresh phosphor in return. The existing blue and red look good enough that I can't imagine sacrificing a couple of tubes rated 8 just to get them rebuilt with fresh phosphor. Remember, I'm a cheap rasterd, so that would mean losing a new P16 tube worth say $200 and a slightly worn P18 tube worth maybe $200, and paying another $100 for the mod, just to go from a 8 to a 10. I think I'll try just replacing the green first. $100 + a toasted tube... that's more within my over-depleted budget.

VDC is only mounting your hardware from your donor tube to you P16. They are not giving you a rebuilt one. So you aren't losing the new P16, you are getting it back with new external hardware. Also don't send them an 8 tube find some burned, toasty, black, tubes to send them (with the right hardware). Also if you are really cheap like me you can swap the hardware yourself. I have done it on 9" tubes before. Of course we won't mention the late night trip to the emergency room. Try to explain well doc I was using the sharp knife to cut the silicone from a CRT..... What is a CRT? Ugh....